In a fiery exchange on Fox News, Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones, a Democrat, clashed with host Sean Hannity over immigration and the role of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The interview, intended to discuss Jones’ controversial stance on abolishing ICE, quickly spiraled into a heated debate, with accusations flying across the screen.

Jones, known for his bold political moves, including participating in a protest that disrupted the Tennessee House floor in 2023, didn’t hold back during the segment. As Hannity, a staunch supporter of ICE, displayed a list of alleged victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in Tennessee, Jones countered with sharp criticism. He accused Hannity of associating with questionable figures in the political sphere, saying, “If you want to go after [sexual assaulters] and criminals, you would stop hanging out with perverts… and [child predators] in the White House, Sean.”

The conversation quickly devolved into a loud back-and-forth, with Jones accusing Hannity of using fear tactics to distract viewers from economic issues. “This man wants you to be afraid of your immigrant neighbors because he wants to protect the billionaires who keep you from having healthcare, letting farms close,” Jones charged, speaking directly to the audience. He further alleged that Hannity’s alliances were with those who he claimed were detrimental to society, saying, “He hangs out with [child predators] and criminals in Mar-a-Lago.”

‘What do you know about the KKK? Do you know a lot about the gestapo? Do you know what the KKK did?’ an incredulous Hannity asked. As Hannity spoke, Jones held up a photo of masked ICE agents he said ‘terrorizing American cities’. Of the KKK, he added, ‘They ran my grandparents out of Tennessee. My dad was a US Marine. He fought for his country. Who have you served, Sean? Besides from your pocketbook.’ Hannity, one of Fox’s longest-serving and highest-paid hosts, earns $25 million-a-year, according to estimates fromForbes. He also recently bought a $23.5 million, eight-bedroom mansion in South Florida just a few miles from Donald Trump’s in Mar-a-Lago.

He continued to ask Jones if he could name a single victim of crime committed by illegal immigrants living in Tennessee. ‘I can name the people who are being criminalized by this administration,’ Jones fumed – to which Hannity replied, ‘I didn’t ask that.’ ‘You never picked up a phone and got off your [expletive] to talk to one constituent, ever. To talk to them and give them condolences, because you are making them less safe and secure,’ Hannity added. As he spoke, Jones again offered his own messaging. ‘You get paid $45 million a year to keep people fearful so they don’t pay attention to the CEOs taking their healthcare, letting their farms close,’ he said.

‘You don’t care about the American people. You’re distracting from the real issues. You want them to be afraid of immigrants because all you have is fear. ‘It’s not the immigrants – it’s the corporate CEOs who are screwing them over so that they cannot afford groceries and their healthcare. That’s who we need to go after,’ Jones continued. ‘I care about the American people,’ Hannity insisted. ‘The America I believe in does not look like masked men targeting people. Shameful. Shameful,’ Jones – still holding up the photo – shot back. Hannity accused Jones of inciting violence against ICE agents. Over more crosstalk, Jones told Hannity: ‘You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m going to pray for you that you lay down this burden and these lies, Sean. Shame on you, my brother. God have mercy on you.’

‘You’re a disgrace,’ Hannity shot back, before repeatedly repeating the insult. ‘You have that thousand-dollar suit on and you get paid millions of dollars to lie to people,’ yelled Jones. ‘The threat to the American people is in the White House, it’s not these immigrants […] Your children will be ashamed of where you stand in this time, Sean. Ashamed that you are on the wrong side of history.’ The state representative then urged God to help Hannity, ‘stop hanging out with perverts in Mar-a-Lago’. At this point, Hannity ended the interview. Jones’ comments about [child predators] appeared to be a reference to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has not been connected to any of the late financiers crimes. The Daily Mail has reached out to Hannity for comment.